Greeting again! Long time
- Thread starter Contigo
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Contigo
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So I went to see it this afternoon (I know viewing cars in the rain is not ideal) and it was at a dealer local to me who is a friend of a friend. The car itself was owned by the garage owner for the last 4 or 5 years and had really just not been used all that much. He owns lots of nice motors including a 456 which was under a dust sheet! Anyway I had a good look round it and check as much as I could (exhaust, rear quarters, boomerangs, suspension) and looked at some receipts from a Ferrari dealer including work for bottom end rebuild which mentioned crank work at about 46K miles. The cam was done at 46K too but that was about 4 years ago so maybe on age it is due a cambelt change and now has 53K miles on the clock. I don't know if it troubles me more that this car has been sat for so long and has only done about 6K miles in 4 years lol.
So anyway onto the test drive. We went out and it pulled hard in each gear with him driving but suddenly bing pulling in one gear on the wet road it felt like there was a sudden cut in power and the check engine light came on. I drove it back after that (we tried to turn ignition off and reset the CEL but to no avail) and it was clearly in limp home mode as there was no power at all. A real shame but at least I have this as bargaining power and the way I left it with the dealer was that I want him to take it to my mates garage next week and me and him are going to hook up the diagnostics and check the car over once and for all. We can measure for end float too and check everything over under the ramp.
I still love these cars but am so wary about going into ownership like no other car I have ever bought and I've run loads of performance cars like M5's, RS4's, RS6's etc.... but nothing scares the feck out of more than the potential bills from one of these 3200's!
So anyway onto the test drive. We went out and it pulled hard in each gear with him driving but suddenly bing pulling in one gear on the wet road it felt like there was a sudden cut in power and the check engine light came on. I drove it back after that (we tried to turn ignition off and reset the CEL but to no avail) and it was clearly in limp home mode as there was no power at all. A real shame but at least I have this as bargaining power and the way I left it with the dealer was that I want him to take it to my mates garage next week and me and him are going to hook up the diagnostics and check the car over once and for all. We can measure for end float too and check everything over under the ramp.
I still love these cars but am so wary about going into ownership like no other car I have ever bought and I've run loads of performance cars like M5's, RS4's, RS6's etc.... but nothing scares the feck out of more than the potential bills from one of these 3200's!
Contigo
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I know but didn't the end float bearing problems cause crank slop anyway? Surely if this work carried out suggest that this one has been looked after. It was an 8K bill!!!!
Contigo
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BennyD I don't know you so again can't really comment but I as a newcomer welcome any comments and suggestions from any owners of Maserati's in general. As far as I can see this forum has a very friendly feel and I don't want to see any bitching really, I can go to Pistonheads for that 
BennyD
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I'm sorry Contigo, I'm not bitching, merely making an observation. (See #22 - 26 for clarification). I have been known to indulge in a fair bit of 3200 v 4200 banter and I tried to comment in a positive way, but my intentions have been misunderstood. I can understand why, so I'm not inviting a slap-down because I mention the 3200. FWIW, I would tread carefully with this one as, I believe, you are doing. Extensive engine rebuilds could indicate a car that has been abused. However, the fact that these problems have been rectified could make it a good buy. The one thing I have noticed with Italian thoroughbreds is that the more, and the harder they are used, the more reliable they seem to be, so the little or no mileage this one has done over the last few years might not be a good thing. IMO, the belts will need changing so that could be a bargaining point. The hoses etc can lose elasticity if not regularly heated and pressurised and it can be expensive to change them. However, I am sure you will make a reasoned decision on whether or not to buy and I wish you all the best in your quest to find the 'right car'. Apologies again if I appeared to be a bit 'snotty'.
Parisien
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...as before.....Maserati had to start somewheres.......this time it was the 3200.......an epic cars on many levels............flawed mind you, but when launched a near miracle car...the 4200/GS buyers later were the main beneficiaries of those brave enough to buy them and make Maserati the success it is today
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mjheathcote
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Nearly bought a V10 M6 before the Maser, the drive with the V10 was something else (however I had not driven a Maser at that point to compare).
At the end of the day I was driving a BMW everyday for work (although a lesser model) and the M6 was too like my daily hack in trim/dash etc and simply was not special enough!
If the Maser is a second car, every journey is a special treat, from the moment you turn the key and you hear the bark of the exhaust!
At the end of the day I was driving a BMW everyday for work (although a lesser model) and the M6 was too like my daily hack in trim/dash etc and simply was not special enough!
If the Maser is a second car, every journey is a special treat, from the moment you turn the key and you hear the bark of the exhaust!